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“It only took poor Grandfather to get sick to get you back."
That was Colton, I thought. I was starting to get them mixed up.
"Can you all behave while Natalie is here?" Jake asked.
"Uh, no," Gabe said, turning to look straight at me. "As Grandmother’s party planner, I think it's good for you to get used to us. Otherwise, you won't know what hit you on the day of the party."
I chuckled. "Good to know."
I wondered how come all his brothers seemed to be so humorous and ready to joke around while Jake wasn't. Well, to be fair, Colton wasn't very sunny either. But still, Jake was extra broody, and his family seemed to actually like each other and were glad to have him home. This only made me wonder even more why he'd been so adamant to stay away from Boston. Back at Martha's Vineyard, when he'd spoken about taking over the company, he'd seemed more bothered by the fact that he had to be here in the city than leaving his company in New York. Then again, maybe he had a girlfriend in New York, although, judging by what Gabe said, that wasn't likely.
“My grandsons might give you headaches,” Jeannie warned, “but none as much as Jake.”
“Grandmother!” Jake warned, but Jeannie seemed unfazed by his outburst.
“What? It’s true. He wasn’t always like that either. Cade was the one who always gave us the most headaches. In school he used to surprise teachers with all sorts of pranks. Once, he brought a frog and put it in a teacher’s pocket. Then he moved on to more serious pranks. Reckless, some would say.”
The mood turned gloomy for a few moments, then Jeannie added, “Spencer was the one who tried to smooth things over, even though they were the same age.”
“You’re twins?” I asked in surprise.
Spencer nodded. “Yeah. That’s me, always the pacifist.”
“Except when you tried to smooth things over by doing bigger shit than Cade just to take the attention off him,” Colton pointed out.
“Bigger shit? That’s impossible,” Cade interjected. “I was the most reckless Whitley, and I won’t relinquish that title to anyone.”
“Yeah, well, I’m wiser now. I have smarter strategies,” Spencer said.
“Besides, I don’t share my adventures with the family anymore,” Cade added on a wink.
“That’s what you think, my boy,” Jeannie replied with a wicked smile, and Cade’s expression went from smug to stunned. Turning to Gabe, she added, “Gabe was also determined to give me as many headaches as possible. He tried to talk his way out of attending senior year in high school.”
“Didn’t go over too well,” Gabe admitted. “And it’s a good thing you stuck to your guns, Grandmother.”
Jeannie walked to the sideboard, taking out glasses and putting them on a tray. Colton popped open a bottle of bubbly and filled the glasses.
When had she whipped those out? I couldn't believe that just half an hour ago, she seemed to be a ghost of herself. Now she was chipper and smiling and seemed to be the same woman I’d met when she initially hired me.
"Do the honors, dear," she said, coming to me with the first glass.
"Thank you, Jeannie."
All the boys reached out for a drink, and she took her glass last. They all clinked in cheers, and I stood awkwardly, unsure if I should join the toast, but Jeannie motioned me forward with her hand.
I stepped right up between Jake and Gabe. As we all clinked glasses, I accidentally stumbled backward right into Jake. He put a strong hand on my shoulder, steadying me, and I felt the contact throughout my body.
Oh, great. I shook hands with all his brothers, and no spark, zip, nada. Yet Jake touched me, through my clothing even, and I was on fire.
After taking the first sip, everyone seemed to talk at the same time. Colton and Cade wanted to head upstairs and check on their grandfather. Spencer and Gabe were asking Jake where he planned to live.
"Boys, your grandfather is resting, but I'm sure he'll want to see you later. And you two, stop accosting Jake. He's a grown man. He'll figure out where he wants to live,” Jeannie said.
Gabe turned to me again. "Natalie, tell us what you have planned for Grandmother's party."
"Nothing is set in stone," I replied, instantly stepping into business mode. "Jake and I flew out to Martha’s Vineyard to his vacation home because Jeannie and I first considered throwing a destination party there. But since your grandfather is recovering, Jeannie is reconsidering that."
Stone silence followed my explanation. Gabe looked at Jake and then at his other three brothers.
